This publication presents the first known printed text in Tamil, a Cartilha, syllabary and catechism. The catechism and collection of prayers was translated from Portuguese and Latin by three Indians. The Tamil text was provided in Roman letters and a prologue gave information on the transcription and pronunciation. The printing of the text was completed in Lisbon in February 1554. The Cartilha em Tamoul is also of interest because it represents the first translation of European texts into Tamil and gives us an insight into the usage of the Tamil language and its pronunciation in the 16th cent. A.D. It is accompanied here by a phonetic transcription in Tamil characters and a translation and introduction in French.